German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed he will nominate Ilse Aigner as the conservative bloc's candidate for federal president; if elected, she would be Germany's first woman head of state, news agencies dpa, AFP and Reuters reported.
Merz announced his intention to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party heads on Sunday, according to the agencies. The official announcement of the joint candidate of the CDU, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is expected on Monday.
Aigner, 61, is president of the Bavarian state parliament and a member of the CSU. She previously served as agriculture minister under former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2008 to 2013. If elected, she would be the first woman and the first CSU member to hold the presidency.
The new head of state will be chosen on January 30 by the Federal Convention, comprising all 630 members of the Bundestag and an equal number of electors from the state parliaments. Aigner would replace Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a member of the junior coalition partner SPD, when his second five-year term ends in March 2027. Steinmeier is not eligible for re-election.
Merz is expected to pitch Aigner's name formally at a gathering of party leaders on Monday. Both SPD and Green Party representatives have already voiced support for her candidacy, according to the agencies. Brandenburg's SPD state premier, Dietmar Woidke, described Aigner as "the perfect candidate" who knows German politics "inside out," he told POLITICO's Berlin Playbook on Friday.
The German presidency is largely ceremonial, with the chancellor setting the government's policy agenda.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Aigner would be Germany's first female president, a milestone for the country's highest office which has been held only by men since its founding in 1949.
- Her nomination as a joint candidate of the CDU, CSU and SPD signals unusually broad cross-party consensus in Berlin during a period of political tension.
- The selection shows the continued influence of Bavaria's CSU within the conservative bloc, with the party producing its first nominee for a national head of state.
Background
Aigner's path to the presidency began in April when Bavarian Premier Markus Söder suggested her as a candidate. The CSU has dominated Bavarian politics for decades but has never produced a German chancellor or president. She enjoys support from across the major parties, with Greens also backing her. The presidency has been held since 2017 by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a former foreign minister for the SPD, whose second term ends in March 2027.
Key Perspectives
CDU/CSU conservative bloc: Backs Aigner as its nominee, with Merz having earlier said he wanted to see a woman elected as president.
SPD and Green figures: Have signalled support for Aigner, with Brandenburg's SPD state premier Dietmar Woidke calling her "the perfect candidate."
What to Watch
- Monday's official nomination announcement by the CDU/CSU will confirm whether any other candidates are proposed.
- January 30, 2027: the Federal Convention vote; a simple majority is required to elect the president.
- Whether Aigner's cross-party support holds through to the vote or fractures amid coalition tensions.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
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- Partly supportedMerz confirmed he would nominate Aigner.DW English: “So far, Merz has declined to confirm widespread reports that his party will join with Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), in putting forward Bavarian parliamentary speaker Ilse Aigner for the job”
- Supporteddpa, AFP and Reuters reported that Merz announced his intention to nominate Aigner to CDU party heads on Sunday.DW English: “German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced announced to the Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party heads his intention to nominate Ilse Aigner as the country's next federal president, according to the dpa, AFP and Reuters news agencies.”
- SupportedIf elected, Aigner would be Germany’s first woman president.DW English: “Aigner, 61, who enjoys support from within all the major parties, is seen as have good chances of taking the largely ceremonial job as German head of state. If she were to become president, she would become the first woman and the first CSU member to hold the position.”
- SupportedAigner is to be the joint nominee of the CDU, CSU and SPD.DW English: “According to media reports, Aigner, the current speaker of the Bavarian state parliament, would be put forward as a joint candidate of the three coalition parties — CDU, CSU and center-left Social Democrats (SPD) — as a successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.”
- SupportedThe official announcement of the joint candidate is expected on Monday.DW English: “The actual announcement of the choice of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc for a successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be made on Monday.”
- SupportedAigner is president of the Bavarian state parliament and a member of the CSU.DW English: “Aigner, who hails from Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) and is the president of the Bavarian state parliament”
- SupportedAigner served as agriculture minister under Angela Merkel from 2008 to 2013.Politico Europe: “Aigner, who previously served as agriculture minister under former German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2008 to 2013, is currently president of the Bavarian State Parliament.”
- SupportedAigner would be the first CSU member to hold the German presidency.DW English: “If she were to become president, she would become the first woman and the first CSU member to hold the position.”
- SupportedThe Federal Convention will elect Steinmeier’s successor on January 30, 2027.Politico Europe: “His successor will be elected on Jan. 30, 2027.”
- SupportedThe Federal Convention comprises all 630 Bundestag members and an equal number of state-parliament electors.DW English: “The new German head of state is to be chosen on January 30 by a special assembly, the Federal Convention, which comprises all 630 members of the Bundestag and an equal number of electors who represent the state parliaments.”
- SupportedSteinmeier’s second five-year term ends in March 2027.Politico Europe: “Steinmeier’s second five-year term ends in March 2027.”
- SupportedWoidke called Aigner “the perfect candidate” who knows German politics “inside out.”Politico Europe: “Brandenburg’s SPD state premier, Dietmar Woidke, described Aigner as “the perfect candidate” who knows German politics “inside out,” he told POLITICO’s Berlin Playbook on Friday.”